The Sopranos Joe Pantoliano comes to The Ridgefield Playhouse for the No Kidding! Me Too! on May 13

The Sopranos actor Joe Pantoliano comes to The Ridgefield Playhouse for the No Kidding! Me Too!! documentary 
family film event on Wednesday, May 13    

To draw attention to the nearly 100 million Americans suffering in isolation from mental/brain disease, The Ridgefield Prevention Council is sponsoring a documentary film No Kidding! Me Too!! event with the famous actor Joe Pantoliano, who has had leading roles in The Sopranos, Memento and The Matrix, at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m.

After the screening of this empowering film, Pantoliano will answer questions about his own struggle with depression and that of his family. There will be a silent auction in the lobby at 6:30 p.m. to benefit No Kidding! Me Too!, a 501(c)(3) public charity, whose mission is to remove the stigma attached with brain disease. The Ridgefield Prevention Council (RPC) is dedicated to providing information and education to our community in an effort to support families and reduce high-risk behaviors in our youth population. The RPC offers programs to build awareness through educational outreach, youth leadership initiatives and community. There will be a silent auction in the lobby at 6:30 p.m. to benefit the non-profit No Kidding! Me Too!! organization. This event is underwritten by The Ridgefield Prevention Council and Western CT Health Network, partially underwritten by Silver Hill Hospital and is part of HamletHub’s “A Whole New You Series”.

Actor Pantoliano makes his documentary film directorial debut as part of his fight against the stigma and shame of mental/brain disease. Candid, often humorous discussions with Pantoliano and his family on their own struggle with his clinical depression, as well as the compelling stories of six other people from all walks of life, will be part of this film event. All affected differently by mental illness, the participants include a brain surgeon with bipolar disorder and three high school students managing bipolar disorder and clinical depression. They discuss the struggle before diagnosis, with attempts at self-medication and other destructive behavior, as well as the hope and encouragement discovered when managing their own recovery and finally realizing they are not alone.

The film creates an inspiring vision of a society that "stomps the stigma", as those impacted by mental illness are surprised to find millions of others like themselves, saying, "No Kidding! Me Too!!" This event is being offered in conjunction with May is Mental Health Month 2015. For more than 65 years, Mental Health America and its affiliates across the country have led the observance of May as Mental Health Month, with a focus on spreading the word that mental health is something everyone should care about.

For tickets ($10 suggested donation benefiting No Kidding! Me Too!!;  reservations encouraged to ensure good seating; walk-ups welcomed night of show), please call the box office at 203-438-5795. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT; ridgefieldplayhouse.org.